The early postponement of the scheduled SPL2 match with Hartley Wintney at the Romsey Sports Centre enabled OTs to send Harry Tulk, Joe Vaughan (pictured), lead left-arm spinner Matt Bampton and opening bowlers Lewis Allen and Ed Davies off down the A31 and across the Dorset county boundary to Dolman’s Farm.
The trip began well enough when Ferndown, third in Hampshire League Division 2, lost two early wickets and were restricted to 169-8, Jordan Ponting taking 3-21 and Liam Poolman snapping up four victims behind the stumps.
The strengthened OTs team began their reply well enough but having reached 41 without loss promptly lost three wickets for one and never really recovered.
It was left to first team regular Joe Vaughan (53) to glue the innings together but when he became one of Freddie Pittway’s four victims at 127, OTs lost another three wickets for one run and were eventually all out for 153. Pittway finished with 4-21.
OTs expect their normal first team to reassemble at Paultons for a 12.30pm derby against their near neighbours, who are bottom of SPL2.